Carpet-sweeper.



C A. BOYER. CARPET SA/IEIEIHIl APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3; 199m patented Jan. 25, 19M.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. A. BOYER.

@Aam swEEPER.

APPLICATION FIKLED NOV. 13, 1914. 1,169,526, Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. A, BOYER.

CARPET SWEEPER.

APPucATloN FILED Nov.13,1914.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

of the machine. showing the dust pans CHARLES A. eoy'iii'i' or WARSAW, INDIANA, AssIGNon To HUGRO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

CARPETSWEEPER Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 25, 1916.

Application filed November 13, 1914. Serial No. 871,912.

To all whom it lmay conce/m:

Be it known that I. C-'IA'LLES A. BOYEII, a citizen of thelfnited States of America, and resident of vai-saw. losciufsko cc'unty,y In; diana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Carpet-Sweepers, of which the following is a specification.

One of th'e objects of my invention is to provide an improved machine of this character which will be simple, durable and reliable in constructioin and effective and efficient in operation. Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

My invention consists in the features of novelty eemplified in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, ,described in the following specification, and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawingsa-Figure l is a vtop plan view-of an improved machine embodying my invention. Fig. Q is a view in elevation of one side ofthe machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is al view in elevation of tht opposite side of said machine. Fig. et is a longitudinal vertical section substantially on the line sl--l of Fig. l.A Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the machine, showing the intake nozzle swung downwardly` or Opened to disclose the interior of the forward end of the machine. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. T is a face view of the inner side of tho nozzle. showing the sealing gasket. Fig. S is a sectional view of a portion of the rear end and their operating parts; and Fig. 9 is a detail section substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. l. y

In the drawings. l have shown my invention as embodied in the structure which I have found best adapted to jiequirements and conditions. but it will be obvious to one skilled in the art. after having obtained an understanding of my invention from the disclosures herein made. that iny invention is capable of modification and rearrange ment without' departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and I wish it so understood.

The body structure of the machine shown in the drawings involves a frame on which the various operating parts are mounted.

This frame in the present structure is preferably in the form of a housing or casing A which is preferably made up of sheet metal on account of the cost and convenience of construction. The rear end of the strncture is supported by a pair of wheels l which are mounted upon a transverse shaft Q suitably journaled in bearings formed in the frame or casing. This transverse shaft has a plurality of crank portions 3, which through the medium of the connecting rods or links 4 actuate the bellows or pumpers 5, the power being applied to the cranks through the tractive effect of the wheels l upon the floor or surface over which the device is propelled.

The connecting links 4 are pivotally connected to extensions 6 on the movable elements or members 7 of the pumpers. The

fixed or lower elements of the pumpers are mounted upon and supported by a transverse partition ywall 8 substantially midway of the height of the body structure and eX- tending almost to the rear end of the casing, leaving just sufficient room for the operation of the bellows-operating cranks. At this point the partition wall extends downwardly to protect the bottom of the casing where it forms a shoulder 10, the purpose will later appeal.;y At the forward end the bellows or pumpers have a plurality of alved holes or openings cate with a acuum"compartment 12. rl`his compartment is formed by the side walls of the casing and the forward portion of the partition 8. together with another and lower horizontal partition 13 and a vertical wall or partition 111-, the latter closing the rear end ofthe compartment 1Q. The forward end of the compartment is open and substantially iiush with the forward end/ of the casing. The compartment 12 is o a removable dust collector device C, and across the forward end ofthe casing is'positioned the usual dust intake nozzle D.

Gn the under side of the body structure are two dust pans or trays 4:5 and 46, which are arranged to receive the dust and other -articles which arepicked up by the rotary brush iT. These dustv pans entend transversely substantially the entire width .of the casing and are formed in transverse section substantially as shown in F They are open at their upper sides and have inner vertical walls 4.8 adjacent the brush.

11 l which communiy of which upied by y igs. 4 and 8.

Y coperates with the offset shoulder 10 in the These pansi'arze spaced apart to suficiently accommodate the rotary brush between them. They are pivoted at the points'49 at each end to the side walls of the casing, so

that they may be tilted or swung downward the compartment wall-13, as shown clearly 1n Figs. 4 and 8. This restricts its upward movement and holds it in' definite position with respect to the rotary brush. The other pan 46 is correspondingly positioned and its outer edge portion,. like that of the pan 45,

partition wall of the casing, as previously explained. Adjacent one side of the casing and at correspondingr ends of the two pans is a single link or lever member E common to both pans. This operating link is pivoted intermediate its ends to the pan 46 at the point 50 on one side of the pivotal point of said pan 45. One end of said lever E is pivoted at the point 51 on the other pan 45, the point 51 being on a corresponding side of the pivotal point 49 of said pan 45. The other end or arm of the lever extends rearwardlyA to a point where it projects beyond or'at least substantially even with the rear end of the casing and is' formed as a fingerpiece Thus by depressing the fingerpiece 52 of the operating link both pans may be simultaneously swung downward for the purpose of dumping their contents. A spring 53 fastened to the casing and to the lever E adjacent its finger-piece operates to pull upwardly on the operating link E and thus maintain the pans in their normal or closed positions. I am thus enabled by this construction to employ a single operating member for the pans having direct pivotal connection with and common to bothof the pans, thus reducing the expense of manufacture and providing an extreme-ly simple operating mechanism.

It will be observed also that an important advantage is obtained by arranging the rollers orgears 6l.

dumping lever to lie underneath the casing approximately parallel with the floor line' and having-'its operating end extending to the rear ofA the machine, where it may be convenientlyoperated by the foot of the operator. This arrangement'of the-dumping lever is simple and durable and, furthermore, avoids" the necessity of extending" it up to the top of the casing.

The rotary brush 47, as clearly shown in the drawings, is`mounted upon a shaft l6 0 which carries at its ends frictional driving These frictional members coperate with apair of auxiliary or intermediate tractor wheels 62, which, as

shown inthe drawings, are positioned intermediate the vendsclof the casing or body structure and on the side of the brush opposite that of the supporting wheels. These wheels are mounted upon a` shaft 63 so;v that -they will rotate in unison, but the shaft passes through comparatively large openings 64 in the side walls lof the casing so that said shaft and its wheels may have considerable relative movement with respect to the casing. The ends of the shafts project into openings 65, which, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, are formed in bridge or stirrup members 66 rigidly secured at their ends to the casing. These bridge members occupy positions outside of the intermediate wheels and the frictional members of the brush, so as to protect these members from becoming damaged during the operation of the machine. Theopening 65 is formed byl offsetting` or striking a small tongue from the body of the straps 66, andv said opening connes the movement of the wheels within certain limits so as to prevent undue displacement of said wheels with respect to the body.

The intermediate wheels 62 are yieldingly pressed into contact with the floor by means of spring 67, which, as shown clearly in Fig.

4, are fastened at 68to the horizontal partip tion wall 8 of the casing and the -free end of which bear upon the shaft 63. These springs are disposed in such manner that they yieldingly press the wheels downwardly against the floor as well as toward the friction wheels .of the rotary brush.

In a structure ofv this character, it is desirable not only to be able to connect and disconnect the brush with respect to the driving wheels, buty also to adjust the brush relatively -to the surface to be cleaned, in accordance with the particular requirements under which themachine is operating. I, therefore, mount the brush shaft in the ends of two levers 70. These levers, as shown clearly in Figs. l and 9, occupjv a position just inside of the bridge members or stirrups 66, and they are pivoted to these stirrups by means of the rivets or bolts 71'. The levers also have slots 72 in them so as to provide a sort of lost motion or pin and slot connection which allows the levers not only to be swung on their pivots but also to be shifted longitudinally. At their other ends the levers 70 carry small disk-shaped members 73 which are ro-v tatably mounted in openings in said levers.

A rod or shaft 74, common to both of said rotated. The operation of this rodl thus cause-s thelevers 70 not only to raise and lower the-rotary brush with respect to the floor, but also to bodily shift the brush to and from driving relation with the wheels 62. The springs 67 will, of course, maintain theintermediate wheels against the friction members 61 of the brush through a certain range of rotation of the operating shaft Tl.

During this range of operation the brush is operated up and down relatively to the floor. .Beyond this range the eccentric members 73 operate to withdraw the brush from engage ment with the intermediate wheels 62. This withdrawal of the brush is arranged for by limiting the distance which the wheels may move 4in following the brush, this limitation bei-ng accomplished bythe openings 65 in the stirrup members 66. At one side of the structureas shown clearly in Fig. l, the end 75 of the shaft may be turned to form an operat ing handle, and limit stops 76 may be formed on the stirrup members to limit the range of rotation of the shaft by cooperation with the handle members 7 5. Comparatively large openings 77 are provided in the side walls of the casing tol allow for this bodily movement of the brush. This construction permits a v' universal adjustment of the brush which may be made with, great accuracy. 'A suitable handle 80 is provided for manipulating the machine. This handle has a bail 8l at its lower end which is pivoted at to the sides of the casing, and which engages with clips 83 for holding the handle-in an upright position when the operators hands are released from it.

-What I cclaim as my invention is:

1. In a carpet sweeper, the combination of'` a casing and means for supporting it as it is moved to and fro on the carpet, bridge plates'fastened to the opposite sides of said casing, a shaft journaled in said plates and extending through the casin'g and provided at its ends with drive wheels, a transverse brush carrying friction wheels at its ends adapted to engage with the aforesaid drive wheels, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said bridge plates and having the shaft of the aforesaid brush journaled in their forward ends, means 'mounted on the casing for simultaneously raising and lowering the rear ends of said levers to thus raise anfd lower the brush, and means for resiliently pressing the drive wheels toward the floor and the friction wheels on vthe brush shaft so that when the brush is in its lowered position it will be driven by said drive wheels.

2. The combination of a body structure, wheels,v yieldably mounted thereon, a rotary brush, a lever support-ing the brush, and means for actuating said lever to bodily shift the brush into and out of driving relation to said wheels and toward and from the ioor.

Br.' The combination of a frame, wheels relatively to the floorand into and out of driving relation' to said wheels.

el. 'lhe combination of a casing, a pair of wheels yieldingly mounted thereon for con.- tact with the floor, a rotary brush disposed on an axis parallel with the wheel axes and having rollers at its ends for frictional driving connection with said wheels, a lever pivotally mounted on the casing adjacent each end of the brush and supporting the brush at one of its ends, atransverse shaft common to and having an eccentric connection :with the other ends of said levers for rocking the levers to adjust the brush.

5. ln a carpet sweeper, the combination of a casing mounted on traction wheels, a brush extending transversely of the casing and driven from said wheels, a tray pivotally supported at each side of thebrush and within the casino, and a lever for simultaneously dumping the trays, said lever being pivotally connected to both trays and extending backwardly underneath the' casing, its rear end being accessible for depression by the foot of the operator.

6. In a carpet sweeper, the combination ol a casing mounted on traction wheels, a brush extending transversely of the' casing and driven from said wheels, a tray pivotally supported at each side ofthe brush and within the casing, a lever for simultaneously dumping the trays, said lever being pivot ally connected to both trays and extending baclrwardly underneath the casing, its rear end being accessible for depression by the foot of the operator, and a spring connecting said lever to the casing and acting to normally raise the lever' and the trays.

7. ln a carpet sweeper, the combination of a casing carrying means for supporting the same at itsy forward end as well as its rear end as `the casing is moved to and fro over the carpet, transverse dumping pans within the casing, a transverse brush journaled within the casing and provided with friction wheels at its ends, a pair of floor-engaging drive wheels affixed to a shaft extending transversely of the casing, means for resiliently pressing this shaft with its wheels toward the floor as well as toward the brush shaftl` and means for raising., and lowering the brush and moving it toward andfrom said drive wheels, whereby when the brush is lowered its friction wheels will engage the drive wheels and when raised will be out of contact therewith.

8. In a carpet sweeper, the combination of a casing and means for supporting4 the same as it is moved to 'and fro over the Carpet, a

lOl

transverse rotary brush carrying friction wheels, means whereby this brush and its friction Wheels are bodily moved upwardly and dmvnwnrdly as well as forwardly and backwardly, a transverse shaft parallel with the brush vshaft and carrying Hoor-engaging driving Wheels, this shaft being supported in such manner as to have free bodily movement toward and from the oor and also l 10 toward and from the brush-driving Wheels,-

mesme and means for resiliently pressing this shaft and its wheels toward the iiojo* and lso towrd the brush-driving Wheels.

Signed by vine at XVarsaW, Ind., this 2nd day of Nov. 1914.

CHARLES A. BOYER.

YWitnesses.

C. EDWARD HUNT, CARL E. KRATzsCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve-cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

